Machine for stamping cans and other packaged goods



. April 29,1958 w. K. MUNSON MACHINE FOR STAMPING CANS AND OTHER PACKAGED GOODS Filed D60. 7, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

WHITNEY K.MUNSON ORNEY lsllACl-HNE Fill? STAMPING CANS AND OTHER PACKAGED GQODS Whitney K. Mnnson, Red Bank, N. J.

Application December 7, 1554, fierial No. 473,530

Claims. (Cl. 1911- -41) This invention relates to a machine in which a rubber stamp is normally supported and sealed upon an inking pad unit and then movable over and downwardly with respect to a package or article receiving station in the operation of imprinting on the upper surface of the package a mark identifying the seller of the packaged merchandise, thereby informing the purchaser where replacement of the packaged goods can be had.

More particularly, the invention deals with a machine of the character described, wherein the package station includes a slide, upon which smaller packages are adapted to be supported and alined and which is movable into inoperative position in the stamping of larger packages.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a machine made according to my invention, indicating diflerent positions of parts in dotted lines; and

Fig. 2 is a plan and sectional view of the machine.

In the sale of various types and kinds of packaged merchandise, such for example, as in the sale of canned goods and, particularly paints, enamels, varnishes, etc., it

has always been desirable, particularly from the standpoint of service to the customer, to apply to the package or can an imprint identifying the store from which the package or can was purchased. Considering paint and similar cans, and here reference is to all types and kinds of canned goods, and particularly canned goods requiring replacement or renewal, the top or cover of the can is, at all times, kept clean, notwithstanding the use of the contents of the can. Thus, the most vulnerable spot to apply the name of the store or seller is on the upper surface of the can cover.

, To satisfy this much needed want, I have devised a machine capable of handling packaged goods of several sizes and, in the present structure, specifically designed to handle canned goods substantially of the gallon, quart and pint sizes and to so construct the machine as to quickly and easily apply a rubber stamp imprint on the upper surface of the cover of the can prior to storing or at the time of sale of the can to a purchaser. In one instance, the machine would be located in a storeroom or shipping room to enable stamping of cans as they are re ceived and prior to placement on a shelf and, in the other instance, the machine could be arranged upon a counter adjacent the wrapping station so that the can can be placed in the machine and stamped, preparatory to wrapping the same.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of the invention, 1 have shown, in the accompanying drawings, a base, comprising two side foot rails 10, having corner feet 11 with protruding apertured members 12 for receiving screws or other fastening devices in securing the machine to a support. The rails 10 also include an intermediate support- Patented Apr. 29, 1958 "ice 2, ing foot 13, one of which is shown in Fig. l of the drawing. It will be apparent that the rails 10 are disposed at each side of the machine and will be of similar construction.

Fixed to the rails 10 is a block or strip of wood 14, which forms the base proper of the machine and on the base 14 is arranged a sheet metal facing 15 having a downwardly turned flange 16 at its forward edge, as clearly noted in Fig. 1.

Suitably fixed upon the baseplate 15 is a substantially U-shaped casing 17, comprising a back wall 18 and similar side walls 19, the latter terminating at their forward edges in inturned flanges, one of which is seen at 20 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

At 21 l' have shown a top wall, having depending flanges 22 arranged within and secured to upper edge portions of the walls 13 and 19 and the forward edge portion of the top wall 21 is cutout to form a curved edge portion 23. Suitably fixed to and conforming with the curved edge portion 23 and also fixed to the baseplate 15 is a curved upstanding wall 2 1, which forms, forwardly thereof and upon the baseplate 15, a package receiving station 25. At this time, it will be pointed out that the curvature of the wall 24 is such as to freely receive a gallon can, similar to a gallon paint can for positioning at the station 25 in the operation of marking or stamping the can.

It will be apparent, from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing, that the forward edge portions of the curved wall 24 fit within and abut the flange 20. The wall 24, at its lower end, is cutout, as seen at 26, and this cutout is enlarged at the upper portion thereof, as seen at 26, to clear a can alining or positioning ring 27 constituting part of a slide 23. The slide 28, in the construction shown, comprises two vertically disposed side plates 29 integrally joined by a narrow crosshead 30, note Fig. 1, to which crosshead is secured a bearing sleeve 31 which projects rearwardly, the sleeve being adapted to slide along a guide and alinement rod 32, as clearly noted in said figure. The rod 32 is attached to the back wall 18, as seen at 33, and extends forwardly and terminates short of the wall 24. It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawing that the sleeve 31, in striking the Wall 1%, checks inward movement of the slide; whereas, outward movement of the slide is checked by outwardly extending lugs 34 on the walls 25 engaging inwardly extending flange portions 35 on the wall 24 in alinement with and partially forming the opening 26.

The forward movement is so checked as to position the ring 27 at thestation 25, so as to facilitate marking or stamping in the manner later described; whereas, in the inward movement of the slide, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the forward edge of the ring 27 will be inwardly of, or at least in alinement with, the surface of the wall 24. In this connection, it will be apparent that the flanges 35 are of suflicient length to maintain the walls 29 at all times in contact with the flanges 35. These flanges, in conjunction with the rod 32, serve to guide and aline the slide in its movement toward and from the station 25.

The walls 29 are preferably braced at their forward edge by a crossrod 36 and also by a transverse strip 37 which is arranged beneath the ring 27 and rests upon and is secured to inwardly extending lugs 38 on the walls 29. The ring 27 is welded or otherwise fixed in position upon the walls 29 and the strip 37.

Mounted upon the top wall 21 is a stamp pad unit 39, consisting of a pad base 40, on which an inking pad 41 is arranged. Supported on the base 40 is a sheet metal casing 42, having a large aperture 43 therein to receive the rubber stamp 44, the latter being normally supported upon the inking pad 41, so as to be inked, ready for use at all times.

At 45 is shown the supporting block of the stamp 44,

this block being sufficiently wide to support, on its lower surface and around the stamp 44, a rubber sealing strip 46 which engages the casing 42 around the opening 43 therein, so as to seal the stamp and prevent evaporation of the ink on the pad 41. The block 45 has a pair of upwardly projecting bolts or screws, one of which is indicated at 4-7 and these bolts or screws pass through an elongated aperture 48 in a crosspiate 49 of the stamp operating mechanism 51 Winged nuts, one of which is shown at 51, are employed to adjustably secure the block 45 in position on the crossplate 49.

The crossplate 49, has, at its ends, upstanding bearing portions, one of which is seen at 52 in the accompanying drawing. In this connection, it will be understood that both ends of the mechanism 50 are of the same construction. Therefore, duplication of these ends is not deemed to be necessary.

Pivoted to end portions of the bearings 52 are links 53 and 54, the other ends of the links being pivoted to side brackets 55 suitably fixed to the top wall 21 of the machine, the pivots of the links 53 and 54 to the brackets 55 being equal in spacing to the pivots of the links with the ends of the bearings 52, thus providing a balanced movement of the plate 49 with the stamp 44 mounted thereon, maintaining, at all times, a substantially horizontal position and moving the stamp in a more or less common vertical alinement at the stamping station 25, the variance in movement being slight and this variance is compensated for by different positioning of large and small cans at the stamping staiton.

Pivoted to the brackets 55, as seen at 545, are side arms 57 of an operating lever, the arms having inwardly ollset end portions which are joined by a handgrip portion 59. The offset ends 58 are further braced by a crossrod 60. The arms 57 are further joined by another crossrod 61 adjacent the pivots, as at 56, these rods passing through the upper central. portion of the bearings 52, as clearly noted in Fig. l of the drawing, and serve to actuate the stamp as the operating lever is swung from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of said figure.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing that spacing sleeves 62 are arranged upon the rods 61 to maintain the levers 57 and bearings 52, in spaced relationship to each other.

The bearing 31 has an upwardly extending pin 63, around which passes a small diameter coil spring 64, the ends of the spring being secured to suitable pins, one of which is seen at 65 in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the pin 65 being fixed to the wall 24 adjacent the forward ends thereof. The spring 64 serves to normally maintain the carriage 28 in its forward operative position, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. However, in placing a large or gallon can on the baseplate l5 and pushing the can in the direction of the Wall 24, the slide 28 will be automatically moved inwardly against the action of the spring 64; whereupon, the mechanism 50 is actuated to move the stamp 44 from the position shown in full lines into a forward can engaging position. By applying slight downward pressure upon the handle 59, the stamp can be moved into firm engagement with the top cover of the can to mark thereon a predetermined imprint of the name and address of the store. The mechanism 50 is then swung into its normal full line position and, upon removing the can from the station 25, the slide 28 will automatically move outwardly into operative position.

In placing quart cans at the station 25, these cans are guided by engagement with the outer peripheral edge of the ring 27, which engages the usual downwardly extending flange at the periphery of the lower edge of the can.

011 the other hand, in placing paint cans at the station 25, these cans are guided by positioning the cans within the ring 27.

It will be understood that the height of the slide 28 is 4 such as to bring the upper cover surface of the smallest can in position to be stamped by the stamp 44.

It is preferred that one side wall of the casing 17 has a door opening 66 therein, controlled by a door 66', hinged as seen at 67. This will enable the casing to be used as a storage for ink containers positioned beyond the path of travel of the carriage 28.

The inking pad and stamp assemblage is detachable with respect to the machine and this assemblage is made the subject matter of a separate application, later to be identified by serial number and filing date.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, a U-shaped casing supported upon one side of the base and defined by back and side walls, a curved front wall forming a closure for the front of said casing, the base, forwardly of said curved wall, forming an article receiving station, the casing having a top wall with a forward edge conforming to the contour of the front wall of said casing, a stamp pad unit supported upon the top wall of the casing and comprising a pad and a stamp, a stamp operating mechanism supported upon the top wall of the casing and having means adjustably supporting said stamp and normally maintaining the stamp in engagement with the pad of said unit, said unit being positioned rearwardly with respect to said station, said mechanism being adapted to move the stamp of said unit forwardly and above the station and vertically at said station to a position below the top wall of the casing in the operation of stamping an article supported at the station, an article supporting slide normally positioned at said station, tensional means for maintaining the slide in the normal operative position, and said slide being movable rearwardly through the curved front wall of the casing in the operation of placing a large article at the station, preparatory to stamping said article.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, a U-shaped casing supported upon one side of the base and defined by back and side walls, a curved front wall forming a closure for the front of said casing, the base, forwardly of said curved wall, forming an article receiving station, the casing having a top wall with a forward edge conforming to the contour of the front wall of said casing, a stamp pad unit supported upon the top wall of the casing and comprising a pad and a stamp, a stamp operating mechanism supported upon the top wall of the casing and having means adjustably supporting said stamp and normally maintaining the stamp in engagement with the pad of said unit, said unit being positioned rearwardly with respect to said station, said mechanism being adapted to move the stamp of said unit forwardly and above the station and vertically at said station to a position below the top wall of the casing in the operation of stamping an article supported at the station, an article supporting slide normally positioned at said station, tensional means for maintaining the slide in the normal operative position, said slide being movable rearwardly through the curved front wall of the casing in the operation of placing a large article at the station, preparatory to stamping said article, and said slide including a top article positioning ring, inner and outer edges of which serving to position different sized articles at said station.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, a U-shaped casing supported upon one side of the base and defined by back and side walls, a curved front wall forming a closure for the front of said casing, the base, forwardly of said curved wall, forming an article receiving station, the casing having a top wall with a forward edge conforming to the contour of the front wall of said casing, a stamp pad unit supported upon the v top wall of the casing and comprising a pad and a stamp,

a stamp operating mechanism supported upon the top wall of the casing and having means adjustably support 5 ing said stamp and normally maintaining the stamp in engagement with the pad of said unit, said unit being positioned rearwardly with respect to said station, said mechanism being adapted to move the stamp of said unit forwardly and above the station and vertically at said station to a position below the top wall of the casing in the operation of stamping an article supported at the station, an article supporting slide normally positioned at said station, tensional means for maintaining the slide in the normal operative position, said slide movable rearwardly through the curved front wall ing in the operation of placing a large article the station, preparatory to stamping said article, said slide including a top article positioning ring, inner and outer edges of which serving to position different sized articles at said station, and the back wall of the casing having a forwardly extending guide member for guiding the slide in its movement forwardly and backwardly in the casing.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, a U-shaped casing supported upon one side of the base and defined by back and side walls, a curved front wall forming a closure for the front of said casing, the base, forwardly of said curved wall, forming an article receiving station, the casing having a top wall with a forward edge conforming to the contour of the front wall of said casing, a stamp pad unit supported upon the top wall of the casing and comprising a pad and a stamp, a stamp operating mechanism supported upon the top wall of the casing and having means adjustably supporting said stamp and normally maintaining the stamp in engagement with the pad of said unit, said unit being positioned rearwardly with respect to said station, said mechanism being adapted to move the stamp of said unit forwardly and above the station and vertically at said station to a position below the top wall of the casing in the operation of stamping an article supported at the station, an article supporting slide normally positioned at said station, tensional means for maintaining the slide in the normal operative position, said slide being mov- 1;

able rearwardly through the curved front wall of the easing in the operation of placing a large article at the station, preparatory to stamping said article, said slide including a top article positioning ring, inner and outer edges of which serving to position different sized articles at said station, the back wall of the casing having a forwardly extending guide member for guiding the slide in 6 its movement forwardly and backwardly in the casing, and the curved front wall of the casing, where it is cutout to receive said slide, having rearwardly extending flange portions to guide and aline the slide with respect to said station.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, a U-shaped casing supported upon one side of the base and defined by back and side Walls, a curved front wall forming a closure for the front of said casing, the base, forwardly of said curved wall, forming an article receiving station, the casing having a top wall with a forward edge conforming to the contour of the front Wall of said casing, a stamp pad unit supported upon the top wall of the casing and comprising a pad and a stamp, a stamp operating mechanism supported upon the top wall of the casing and having means adjustably supporting said stamp and normally maintaining the stamp in engagement with the pad of said unit, said unit being positioned rearwardly with respect to said station, said mechanism being adatped to move the stamp of said unit forwardly and above the station and vertically at said station to a position below the top wall of the casing in the operation of stamping an article supported at the station, an article supporting slide normally positioned at said station, tensional means for maintaining the slide in the normal operative position, said slide being movable rearwardly through the curved front wall of the casing: in the operation of placing a large article at the station, preparatory to stamping said article, said slide including a top article positioning ring, inner and outer edges of which serving to position different sized articles at said station, the back wall of the casing having a forwardly extending guide member for guiding the slide in its movement forwardly and baekwardly in the casing, the curved front wall of the casing, where it is cutout to receive said slide, having rearwardly extending flange portions to guide and aline the slide with respect to said station, and said curved wall being cutout to clear said ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,028,567 Gordon et al. i. June 4, 1912 1,189,747 Smith July 4, 1916 1,600,025 Wegman Sept. 14, 1926 2,025,691 Mintz Dec. 24, 1935 2,234,422 Wiswell Mar. 11, 1941 

